Starstruckkk! · · ♥

Financial prudence is a sign of maturity (or so I say). Today I walked into a bookstore intending to purchase a schedule book for the new year. I'd never had any qualms previously about splurging 30 bucks on the cutesy Japanese kind, the only exception being last year's DIY moleskine. This year, I picked up a cute kitty cat one and was on the verge of parting with my money when something inside restrained me (very curiously, as Alice would say). I apologised to the cashier and said I'd take another look around first. A thin and plain green-and-gold notebook caught my eye. It cost 5 dollars. I looked longingly at the cute kitty cat cover. I flipped through its pages. It was so functional, and look! It even had tabbed monthly schedules! And such adorable stickers, too. Deep inside, I knew I had made my decision. With a heavy heart, I returned it to its rightful place on the shelf and paid for my green (and gold, if that's any consolation) notebook. But oh, obeying that voice of reason and restraint against my own wilful and irrational instincts gave me far greater satisfaction than any dozen other cute kitty cat covers could possibly offer.

Curiously enough, that was also the most important of all the lessons I'd learnt in the past year.

And you know what? I think I learnt it well.

Over the years, our conversations have evolved. Age imposes certain demands and responsibilities on the individual. Perhaps we might not be in the fullest capacity to do - not at this point in time - but, in Weisong's words, simply knowing, or being aware, is in itself a step in the right direction. I must admit that I have brushed off certain things far too easily in the past. There were, after all, other people to look after them. But now I look around and realise that some of these responsibilities cannot be so carelessly pushed onto another's shoulders. Because these have become our duties to fulfil. It's a sobering thought. There is so much to be learnt, and so much we are still learning..

In other news, today's outing to the beach was rather sadly disrupted by the rain. But we had fun trying out this new three-wheeled contraption called the Trikke. Played board games at my house after (my sis won a round of Cluedo in record time, proud of her!) and listened to my dad reminisce about Darius and Weisong's fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers (as well as other miscellaneous relatives..I've heard these stories about ten times now, hurhur). We really ought to embark on a Glory family tree project someday.. Carine came over and had to bear the brunt of much of our jokes. Teehee.

All in all I am thankful. For so many things.. Everything. God has been incredibly patient with me, and I stand where I am today only by His grace. I have so much to share about the year, about camp, even about Christmas this year. Been procrastinating, but only because I feel so ill-equipped to put all these thoughts and lessons learnt into words. Soon, I promise! Till then, a verse which has stood me in good stead: "If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).

God is faithful. I testify to that, with my life. :)